Stop mechanism for yarn spinning machines



June 19, 1951 J. K. COCHRAN STOP MECHANISM FOR YARN SPINNING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 13, 1949 INVENTOR N m s Hwa@ C N .wm KWAUT A N w? Jm June 19, 1951 .1. K. COCHRAN sToP NNICHANISN FOR YARN SPINNING MACHINES 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1949 INVENTOR JOHN K. COCHRAN ATTORNEYS Patented June 19, 'A1951 STOP MECHANISM FOR YARN SPINNING MACHINES John K. Cochran, Conyngham, Pa., assgnor to The Duplan Corporation, Hazleton, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application September 13, 1949, Serial No. 115,4.27l

7 Claims. (Cl. 57-80) The present invention relates to the art of machines for spinning and twisting yarns and threads and is more particularly concerned with a stop mechanism for automatically stopping both 4the yarn spindle and the take-up tube upon breaking of the yarn or thread.

In customary yarn spinning machines, the yarn on a package isplaced upon a spindle and is led therefrom to a take-up tube upon which it is wound, the relative motion between the spindle and the yarn package being such that a twisting or spinning action takes place, whereby the yarn is twistedor. spun before being wound upon the take-up tube. Since this spinning and winding operation is done automatically at great speed,

. it is important to be able to stop both the yarn spindle and the yarn take-up tube immediately upon breaking of the yarn in order not to lose the broken end of the yarn and in order to prevent damage to yarn on take-up tube.

This problem is sucessfully solved by the present invention in which an improved mechanism is provided responding to the breaking of the yarn to stop both the spindle and the take-up tube. This is done, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, by the use of a roller guide kept in a normal position by the yarn during spinning and winding. Upon breaking of the yarn this roller is caused to move to actuate a mercury switch to energize a solenoid whose armature energizes a mechanismwhich moves the spindle whorl from engagement with its driving belt and against a brake. Simultaneously a disengaging shield is interposed between the takeup tube and its driving roller whereby the takeup tube also is halted.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration .of the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a spinning machine including the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the actuating mechanism in the on position; and

Figure 4 is a top view of the same mechanism in the ofi position.

Referring to the figures, for ready understanding of the invention, there will first be described the spinning machine itself, whose details do not form any portion of the present invention. This machine comprises a spindle whorl I I rotatably mounted on a slide bracket I2 which in turn is slidably mounted on the frame I3 of the machine. The spindle whorl I I in the operating position is in frictional engagement with a suitably driven belt I4 and is rotated thereby The spindle whorl I I carries the yarn package I6 from which the yarn II passes to a gathering eye I8 then over a roller I9 to a thread guide 20 cooperating with' a take-up tube 2I upon which the thread I'I is to be wound. The take-up tube 2I is normally in frictional engagement with a cork drive roller 22 which is constantly rotated by a suitable source of motive power. The takeup tube 2 I is rotatably mounted in a pair of tracks 23 secured to frame I3, a hinge bracket 24 which is normally urged by a spring 25 so that takeeup l tube 2| bears against the roller 22 and is driven thereby. l l

It will readily be appreciated that, in a machine of this type, if the thread breaks, it is important to stop both the take-up tube 2I and the spindle whorl II carrying the yarn package switch 34. Upon breaking of the yarn, the weightA of the mercury switch 34 (which may be supplemented by other weight if desired) swings the lever 3I around the pivot 32 into a position whereby the mercury switch 34 closes its contacts and energizes solenoid 35. This in turn pulls the armature of the solenoid and an arm 36 connected thereto in a direction out of the plane of the drawing in Figure 1 and to the left in Figure 2.

Pivotally mounted on the bracket 33 within a yoke 31 is one end of the knock-01T rod 38 which is normally in close juxtaposition to the solenoid armature arm 36 and is adapted to be moved byarmature arm 36 uponV energization of the-solenoid 35. At its opposite end, as shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 4 the knock-oircd 38 is pivotally mounted in a-pivot plate 39 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the frame I3 as shown at 4I, A knock-off tension spring 42 is fastened at one end to a bracket 43 secured to the'knock-oi rod 38 and at the other end to the frame I3 at 44. Spring 42 and bracket 43 are arranged so that in the on position shown in Mercury switch 34 is connected by l 3 l Figures (withthemachinerunning) theaxis ot spring 42 extends above the pivot.4|. However. the actuation of the knock-on'rod Il by the solenoid armature 26 in response to switch s4 rotates the knock-oi! rod Il andits bracket 4I about pivot 4| so that the axis of spring l42 crosses over the pivot axis 4| of the pivot plate il. When this happens the force exerted by the knock-oi! spring 42 moves the knock-oi! rod Il and pivot plate Il further in the same direction. In eiiect, the solenoid 26 merely initiates the action and releases the spring 42, which constitutes the primary motivating iorcelilor the rotation of the pivot plate 26.- I

Pivotally mounted on the pivot plate Il at 4I is an arm 46 which has a slot 41 formed at its opposite end and engaging a pin 46 ilxed to the slide bracket |2. The slot 41 is formed in relation to the pin 46 so that when in the position shown in Figure 3 there is normally a clearance between the pin 4I and the closed end 46 oi.' slot 41. However, when the pivot plate 3l rotates about its pivot 4| inl response to the action of solenoid 2l and spring 42, the corresponding movement oi the pivot point 45 between arm 4l and pivot plate 2l causes the arm 46 to slide down so that the pin-4l is engaged by the slot end 4I and, by continued rotation of the pivot plate 3l, the arm 46 forces the -pin 4t and the slide bracket l2 on which it is mounted in a downward direction as shown in Figure 3 or 4 to the ilnal position shown in Figure 4. In so doing. the slide bracket l2 bearing spindle whorl has been moved so that the spindle whorl I disengages the belt I4 and instead engages the brake 26, to stop it, as desired.

Also, pivotally secured to the pivot plate 36 at 6| is a connecting rod 62 which is linked to a disengaging shield il (inFigure 1) having a sub'- stantially cylindrical portion slightly eccentrically mounted with respect to the roller 22. Shield is pivoted at 64 in a mounting bracket i5 secured to the frame i2. Upon rotation of the pivot plate Il. upon breaking of the yarn, the connecting rod 62 is moved forward and thereby pushes the disengaging shield 53, causing it to pivot at I4 so that the end l1 of the disengaging shield 53 is interposed between the cork drive roller 22 and the take-up tube 2|. It will be understood that the resilient engagement between the take-up tube 2l and the drive roller 22 by virtue oi the mounting of the take-up tube 2| in frame I3 readily permits the interposition of the disengaging shield end I1. This shield end 51 thereby prevents the drive roller 22 from having any effect on the take-up tube 2| and also serves as a brake for the take-up tube causing it to stop almost immediately.

The upper end ot the knock-off rod 2l also carries a pin 6| projecting therefrom. In the ordinary position oi the mechanism, with the spindle rotating, the pin 6| is in a free and clear position. However, upon rotation of the pivot plate 26, the pin 6| also swings around and operates to raise the lever 2| to at least partially restore it toward its original position, enough so that the mercury switch 34 is tilted to'ofpen the solenoid circuit. In this way, the solenoid is kept from constant energization which might unduly heat it and even cause it to burn out, while permitting its momen-` tary energization to initiate the stopping action. It will be understood that continued energization oi solenoid Il is unnecessary, since once pivot plate 2l rotates enough to pass the axis oi' spring 4 42 over pivot 4|, the spring 42 keeps the mechanism in the "011" position;

Por the purpose oi re-engaging the mec to the "on" condition, anengaging handle 02 is provided which is rigidly nxed to the disengaging shield l2. By actuation ot the handle 6I in a downward and forward direction (leitward in -Pigure 1), the disengagingshield I3 is pivoted about I4 to retract its end l1 from between the roller 22 and the take-up tube 2|. The spring 2l thereby urges the hinged bracket 24 tnward the drive roller 22 and presses the take-up tube 2| against the drive roller 22 to restore its driving action.

At the same time, movement of the disengaging shield 63 in response to actuation of the handle 63 moves the connecting rod i2 and pivots the pivot plate 26 about its pivot 4| in a clockwise direction as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As soon as the axis ot spring 42 crosses the pivot axis 4|, the tension of spring 42 immediately restores the pivot plate I6 to the position shown in Figure 3 and at the same time restores knock-oit rod 26 to the position in which its pin 6| no longer ensages the lever 2l. When the pivot plate 20 is thus restored to the "on" position the arm 46 no longer engages the -pin 4I. A tension spring 65 surrounding the arm 46 is connected between the pin 46 and the pivot 45 of the arm 46 and this tension spring then withdraws the slide bracket I2 from the brake 26 into engagement with the drive belt I4. whereby spinning and winding upon l the take-up tube are simultaneously re-started.

Accordingly, the present invention has provided an extremely effective and relatively simple arrangement for automatically stopping both the spindle whorl and the take-up -tube of a spinning machine immediately and automatically upon breaking of the yarn. In addition, the machine may be readily re-engaged by the simple actuation of a single engaging handle.

It will be understood that many modications may be readily conceived, coming within the spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the above description be considered as illustrative -only and not in a limiting sense, the present invention being defined solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A stop motion mechanism i'or spinning machines having a rotatable spindle having drive means and a rotatable take-up element also having drive means, comprising a roller adapted to be kept in a predetermined position by the thread or yarn being spun, and to move to a diierent position upon breaking of said thread or yarn, a switch coupled to said roller to be closed thereby when in said different position, a slide member upon which said spindle is mounted, a brake for said spindle, a solenoid responsive to closing of said switch upon movement of said roller from said predetermined position to said diierent position for moving said slide member to disengage said spindle from its drive means and to engage said brake, and further means also responsiveto said roller movement for simultaneously disengaging said take-up element from its drive means, whereby both said spindle and said take-up element are stopped simultaneously,

2. A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said last means also serves to brake said take-up element after disengagement from its drive means.

3. A stop motion mechanism for thread spinning machines having a slide bracket, a spindle whorl rotatably mounted on said bracket and adapted to rotate a thread holder, a take-up tube adapted to Wind up said thread after spinning thereof, and a drive roller for said take-up tube,

I adapted to be energized upon closing of said switch, said solenoid having an armature adapted to move upon energization of said solenoid and means for moving said slide bracket in response to movement of said solenoid amature, saidl means comprising a pivotally mounted element,

' a tension spring normally urging said element rotatably in one sense, means actuated by said armature for rotating said element until said spring passes over the pivot of said element, whereby said spring thereupon urges said element rotatably in opposite sense, a lost-motion connection between said element and said slide brackety adapted upon said rotation of element to push said slide bracket in one direction, and a tension spring coupling said element and bracket for moving said bracket in opposite direction upon rotation or said element in opposite sense. 4. A stop motion mechanism for thread spinning machines having a slide bracket. a spindle whorl rotatablyv mounted on said bracket and adapted to rotate a thread holder, a take-up tube adapted to wind up said thread after spinning thereof, and a drive roller for said take-up tube, comprising a, pivotally mounted element, means including a toggle-mounted tension spring for rotating said element in response to breaking of said thread, a lost-motion connection between said element and said slide bracket adapted upon said rotation oi' said element to push said slide 6 v bracket in one direction, and a tension spring urging said slide bracket in the opposite direction.

5. A stop motion mechanism as in claim 4, wherein said lost-motion connection comprises an arm pivoted to said element and engaging said slide bracket, and said last-named tension spring is coaxial with said arm.

6. A stop motion mechanism for thread spinning machines having a spindle rotatably mounted on a slide bracket. drive means for said spindie, a helical tension spring normally urging said spindle in engagement with said drive means, and means operated`by breaking of said thread for moving said slide bracket in a direction .disengaging said spindle from said drive means in opposition to said spring,said means includingan element coaxially within said spring.

7. A stop mechanism as in claim 6, wherein said thread-operated-means comprises a pivoted element adapted to be rotated upon breaking of said thread, said tension spring being fastened at one end to said pivoted element and at the other end to said slide bracket, and said coaxial element being adapted to only push on said slide bracket, whereby said latter element does not interfere with the restoring action of said spring. JOI-IN K. COCHRAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

